Galbraith's original and distinctive voice is shown to great advantage in works for a range of ensembles.

Nancy Galbraith has emerged as one of the present era's most original and influential musical voices. Her distinctive American style employs an exotic array of postmodern and postminimalist elements including lyricism, polyrhythmic and diatonic harmony. Her work has been praised for its energetic combination of melody and rhythm, and its bright orchestral palette. She is currently recognized as a leader in the field of wind ensemble writing. Her compositions for this genre have become standard repertoire for ensembles throughout the United States and appear on many recordings. She is also an accomplished organist and pianist and has composed a number of works for these instruments. She was born in Pittsburgh and educated at Ohio University, West Virginia University, and Carnegie Mellon University, where she presently serves as Professor of Composition and Theory.